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Memory-Tech, Toshiba Develop DVD/HD-DVD Discs
Kralizec writes "PC World reports that Memory-Tech has developed a dual DVD, HD-DVD disc, which stores DVD content on the upper layer and HD-DVD content on the lower. The DVD data can be read by standard DVD players, giving customers the incentive to buy now, and reap future benefits by buying an HD-DVD player at a later time. Blu-ray suffered a heavy blow when HD-DVD gained the support of four major movie studios; could this be the knockout punch?" (The format was developed jointly with Toshiba.)
The article says "The discs will help popularize the HD-DVD format for consumers and encourage them to purchase HD-DVD players..."
I hope this is referring to the read-only HD-DVDs, not these dual DVD, HD-DVD disc.
If consumers are given choice to buy new movies in HD-/DVD format, it'll only delay the need to purchase HD-DVD players, since it's obvious even to grandmas that all hardware price will drop so much in the first 6-12 months that if you can wait you will.
I start buying DDR memory because my new mainboard only accepts 200pin, and my old one is using 168pin. Same thing goes to my Socket A and Socket 939 CPUs.
Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
It's starting to look like there will be a pretty good format war between the two new HD optical disks in the near future. Both sides are doing an excellent job in aligning themselves with key players that will help them to get their format accepted by the public, and various people on Slashdot have mentioned the benefits of both media.
I have a pretty good hunch that we'll be seeing many drives and players that are dual format (like DVD +/ - R is now). If this does happen, it won't be so bad if there are two dominant media types, and I am sure the competition between the formats can be good for consumers. We shall see!
Yes, but I think one will quickly dominate the other. Need I bring up Betamax?
A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
I for one welcome our new dual DVD, HD-DVD overlords...
But seriously, this is a great move. Not because it technologicaly better, but simply because people will buy these disks, perhaps not even knowing they are HD-DVD compatible. Some time later, when shopping for a new DVD player, when the salesman says "and if you have any DVD-HD-DVD disks, you will get better quality from your existing disks!" thus sealing the deal for lots of people...
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If the DVD/HD-DVD hybrid disc is the same or very close to the DVD-only disc price, people will buy the HD version on the off-chance it will be useful to them in the future. But if it costs significantly more, it'll get completely ignored.
This could be a chance for Toshiba & partners to lock in a good chunk of the market before the market even exists - but they'll never give up their precious new-product premiums. No way will they let their fancy new HD content go for the same price as existing SD content (especially as the hybrid disc will no doubt cost a little more to manufacture).
Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
Most DVDs use the dual layer capacity of current DVDs. Using this technique it would be nessesary to split many movies onto two discs. If your going to do that, why not just package one DVD and one HD-DVD.
In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
so now the consumer has to pay royalties to both format licensors!
brilliant!
I dont know anybody who owns a HD TV, and I cant even get the best out of my current dvds (no progressive scan). Why on earth would I want a new format when I cant even max out the current one...just so companies can sell me the same movies I own now slight increase in resoultion....Dvds look pretty good why do we need to upgrade?
Are you comparing HD DVD players against Blu-ray recorders by any chance? Hardly fair. And it's all vaporware anyway, so prices could change.